With the second semester nearing its end, winter break has finally arrived! It’s time to relax, take a break from the stress of finals, and enjoy the holiday season.
Break, beginning on Dec. 20 and ending on Jan. 5, gives many people plenty of leisure to celebrate the holidays and make the most of the next two weeks by creating new memories. Here are various activities to make the most of your time!
Going ice skating at any Ice Palace location or taking advantage of the limited-time rink at Irvine Spectrum is commonly a go-to winter experience. Whether you are a beginner or not, taking either friends or family could create more memorable moments, alongside helping with one’s skating skills. However, the railing on the sides can assist in staying balanced, too.
After skating, it’s best to pick up some hot chocolate or cider and enjoy the weather and holiday season.
The best way to celebrate at home is to celebrate by decorating your house and filling it with the holiday spirit. No matter what you celebrate, getting into the festive spirit is a comforting way to understand the mood of the season! If you celebrate Christmas, putting up a tree with loved ones closest to you is always an anticipated event for many every year, alongside decorating it with different ornaments and lights.
Putting on some music correlating to the seasons while decorating your house into a new festive wonderland is a good way to get into the spirit of holidays, too!
Sitting down and putting on a Christmas and holiday movie with some special Christmas-themed treats is a great way to relax. Some classics for the season include “The Polar Express”, “Home Alone”, and “Rodolph the Red Nose Reindeer.” Other honorable mentions recommended are “Elf”, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, “A Christmas Carol”, and even “Arthur’s Christmas.”
There is no better way than baking cookies with some music or films on the side with your friends and family. Any cookies are great, especially for Santa before Christmas day. Decorating a gingerbread house or cookies is enjoyable as well, making them different shapes and sizes. If you enjoy hosting small gatherings, holding a cookie or gingerbread decorating competition with those closest to you is a kind gesture to reveal everyone’s creative and artistic abilities. Afterward, wrapping them up in gift boxes for others or enjoying them together is a memorable moment to share.
Gift-giving is the sweetest way to show your gratitude or appreciation towards someone. Going out to pick up gifts for others is an easy way to go out of your way to get closer to another.
If you have a friend group, hosting a Secret Santa Exchange is great, especially when limited on funds or on a budget. Everyone gets equal gifts exchanged with each other so everyone feels equally appreciated during the holidays.
You can also donate clothes, serve meals, and wrap gifts for children and people in need for Christmas for those less fortunate at your local donation centers.
Enjoying the winter break to your fullest is a fun way everyone could recommend to create both a more fun and memorable end of the year and a festive holiday season!
